Eleanor Roosevelt and the University at Albany

1961

Eleanor Roosevelt's last appearance at the just renamed
State University College at Albany occurred in October 19, 1961 at the "Forum on Politics." Eleanor
Roosevelt spoke on the topic "How the United States Can Best Influence the World Against Communism."
While the speech does not survive, her 1954 book, It Seems To Me, acquired for
the Two Millionth volume celebration, gives us good evidence of her attitude toward Communism. Far from being a bitter anti-Communist,
Roosevelt defended the right of the Communist Party of America to exist and for Communists to publically
advocate their beliefs in a free country, as long as they did not advocate the violent overthrow of the
government (It Seems To Me, p. 138-39). Mrs. Roosevelt even took the unpopular position, in 1954, that
students should be taught about Communism and Socialism, and that we could learn from those
doctrines (It Seems To Me, p. 133). What she also made plain, was her absolute opposition to the Stalinist
brand of police state Communism (It Seems To Me, p. 133-34). The following images are
from the University Archives collections. (State College News, October 13, 1961.)
Below photo of Mrs. Roosevelt, October 19, 1961, addressing the Forum on Politics at Page Hall.
Seated on the stage, left to right, Dean Oscar E. Lanford, NYSCT President Evan R. Collins, Professor Mathew Ellson (University Archives photo).